Transcript Presentation Plus! Economics: Principles and Practices Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Developed by FSCreations, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Send all inquiries.

Presentation Plus! Economics: Principles and Practices
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Developed by FSCreations, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Send all inquiries to:
GLENCOE DIVISION
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
8787 Orion Place
Columbus, Ohio 43240
Chapter 6
Prices and Decision
Making
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1 Prices as Signals
SECTION 2 The Price System at Work
SECTION 3 Social Goals vs. Market
Efficiency
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ASSESSMENT
3
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Press the ESC key at any time to exit the presentation.
Economics and You
What factors do you consider when you
need to make a decision to buy
something? Price may be one of the most
important factors of all. In this chapter,
you will learn how price serves as a signal
to both buyers and sellers.
Click the Speaker button to listen
to Economics and You.
4
Chapter Objectives
Section 1: Prices as Signals
• Explain how prices act as signals. 
• Describe the advantages of using prices
as a way to allocate economic products. 
• Understand the difficulty of allocating
scarce goods and services without using
prices.
5
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Chapter Objectives
Section 2: The Price System at Work
• Understand how prices are determined
in competitive markets. 
• Explain how economic models can be
used to predict and explain price
changes. 
• Apply the concepts of elasticity to
changes in prices.
6
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to display the information.
Chapter Objectives
Section 3: Social Goals vs. Market
Efficiency
• Describe the consequence of having a
fixed price in a market. 
• Explain how loan supports and deficiency
payments work. 
• Understand what is meant when “markets
talk.”
7
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to display the information.
Click the mouse button to return to the Contents slide.
Study Guide
Main Idea
Competitive markets and prices are important to
capitalism. 
Reading Strategy
Graphic Organizer As you read the section,
complete a graphic organizer similar to the one
on page 137 of your textbook by providing
examples from your own experience that show
how the price system provides for freedom of
choice.
9
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information. Section 1 begins on page 137 of your textbook.
Study Guide (cont.)
Key Terms
– price 
– ration coupon 
– rationing 
– rebate 
Objectives
After studying this section, you will be able to: 
– Explain how prices act as signals. 
– Describe the advantages of using prices as a
way to allocate economic products. 
– Understand the difficulty of allocating scarce
goods and services without using prices.
10
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information. Section 1 begins on page 137 of your textbook.
Study Guide (cont.)
Applying Economic Concepts
Rationing Have you and your friends ever tried
to share something–a candy bar, cake, or
pizza–when there really wasn’t enough to go
around? What are different ways to make
allocations?
Click the Speaker button to listen to
the Cover Story.
11
Section 1 begins on page 137 of your textbook.
Introduction
• Life is full of signals that help us make
decisions. 
• For example, when we pull up to an
intersection, we look to see if the
traffic light is green, yellow, or red. 
• We look at the other cars to see if
any have their blinkers on, and in
this way we receive signals from
other drivers regarding their
intentions to turn.
12
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Introduction (cont.)
• Doctors even tell us that pain is a signal
that something is wrong with our body and
may need attention. 
• But have you ever thought about the
signals that help us make our
everyday economic decisions? 
• It turns out something as simple as a
price–the monetary value of a
product as established by supply and
demand–is a signal that helps us
make our economic decisions.
13
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Introduction (cont.)
• Prices communicate information
and provide incentives to buyers
and sellers. 
• High prices are signals for producers to
produce more and for buyers to buy
less. Low prices are signals for
producers to produce less and for
buyers to buy more.
14
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Did You Know?
• During the oil crisis in the early 1970s, the
proposed gas rationing program raised
serious differences of opinion among
Americans. Some people argued that
every adult American should get the same
number of gas rationing coupons. Others
argued that owners of newer, more fuelefficient cars would not need as many
coupons as owners of older, gas-guzzling
models.
15
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Did You Know?
• Those who lived in western states
believed they should receive more
coupons than Easterners because they
traveled longer distances. Some people
called for every car owner to receive a
certain number of coupons; others said
this plan discriminated against families
with several drivers who shared one car.
16
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Advantages of Prices
• Prices are neutral because they do not
favor the buyer or the consumer. They are
the result of competition. 
• Prices are flexible, allowing for the
“shocks” of unforeseen events and
changes in the market. 
• Prices have no administration costs. 
• Prices are familiar and easily
understood.
17
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Discussion Question
In your opinion, why does the neutrality
of prices stimulate competition?
Students answers will vary but should
indicate an understanding that buyers
pay the price because they choose to
accept it; otherwise, they would go to
another producer with a lower price
and buy there.
18
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to display the answer.
Allocations Without Prices
• Rationing, or the system where the
government decides everyone’s “fair”
share, leads to the question of fairness. 
• Rationing leads to high administrative
costs. 
• Rationing leads to fewer incentives to work
and produce.
19
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Discussion Question
Imagine that no matter how much you
studied, you already knew you were
going to get a “B” in Economics. How
would this affect your incentive to
study?
Students should indicate that in
school, the grade is often the
incentive; therefore, knowing the
grade beforehand could be
detrimental to the student.
20
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to display the answer.
Prices as a System
• Together, prices comprise a system that
helps buyers and sellers allocate resources
between markets, linking all markets in the
economy.
21
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Discussion Question
Why do you think rebates were not
enough to reenergize the big-car
market during the 1970s energy crisis?
Students should indicate that the
rebates did not solve the problems of
getting and paying for the additional
gasoline the larger cars required. In
addition, the additional costs of
gasoline could well add up to the
rebate amount over the life of the car.
22
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Section Assessment
Main Idea Using your notes from the
graphic organizer activity on page 137
of your textbook, describe how price
affects decisions that consumers
make.
Consumers will purchase less at a
high price and more at a low price.
Consumers also weigh the price
against their need.
23
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Describe how producers and
consumers react to prices.
When prices are high, producers
produce more and consumers buy
less. When prices are low, producers
produce less and consumers demand
more.
24
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Section Assessment (cont.)
List the advantages of using prices to
distribute economic products.
Advantages include neutrality,
flexibility, lack of administrative costs,
and familiarity.
25
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to display the answer.
Section Assessment (cont.)
Explain the difficulties of allocating
goods and services without a price
system.
Difficulties include an unfair system of
allocation, the high cost of
administering the system, and the
negative impact of the system on
incentive to work and produce.
26
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Understanding Cause and Effect
List five items you would like to buy.
How does the price of each item affect
your decision to allocate your scarce
resources–your money and your time?
Explain.
Answers will vary.
27
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to display the answer.
Section Close
Debate the following statement:
In every respect, price is the best
system of allocating goods and
services.
28
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Study Guide
Main Idea
Changes in demand and supply cause prices to
change. 
Reading Strategy
Graphic Organizer As you read the section,
complete a graphic organizer similar to the one
on page 142 of your textbook, showing how a
surplus and shortage affect prices, demand, and
supply.
30
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information. Section 2 begins on page 142 of your textbook.
Study Guide (cont.)
Key Terms
– economic model 
– market equilibrium
– shortage 

– equilibrium price 
– surplus 
Objectives
After studying this section, you will be able to: 
– Understand how prices are determined in
competitive markets. 
– Explain how economic models can be used
to predict and explain price changes. 
– Apply the concepts of elasticity to changes in
prices.
31
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information. Section 2 begins on page 142 of your textbook.
Study Guide (cont.)
Applying Economic Concepts
Equilibrium Price When something is at
equilibrium, it tends to remain at rest. What
causes prices to reach, and then stay at,
equilibrium?
Click the Speaker button to listen
to the Cover Story.
32
Section 2 begins on page 142 of your textbook.
Introduction
• One of the most appealing features of a
competitive market economy is that
everyone who participates has a hand in
determining prices. 
• This is why economists consider prices to
be neutral and impartial. 
• The process of establishing prices is
remarkable because buyers and sellers
have exactly the opposite hopes and
desires.
33
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Introduction (cont.)
• Buyers want to find good buys at low
prices. Sellers hope for high prices and
large profits. 
• Neither can get exactly what they want, so
some adjustment is necessary to reach a
compromise.
34
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Did You Know?
• In spring and summer 1988, drought hit
the United States, drying out a broad
band of the country form the eastern
Appalachian Mountains all the way to the
Pacific coast. Parts of Iowa, Illinois, and
other North Central farm states went for
months with little or no rain. By the end
of June, more than 1,300 counties in 30
states had been declared droughtdisaster areas.
Continued on next slide
35
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Did You Know?
• The drought resulted in a grain shortage
(typical harvest dropped by almost onethird, but stored eased the blow), as well
as a meat shortage (farmers had to
slaughter live-stock early because they
had no grain for the animals). By year’s
end , food prices were up 5.2 percent.
36
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The Price Adjustment Process
• Together, demand and supply make a
complete picture of the market. 
• Price adjustments help a competitive
market reach market equilibrium, with
fairly equal supply and demand. 
Figure 6.1a
37
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The Price Adjustment Process (cont.)
Figure 6.1b
38
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The Price Adjustment Process (cont.)
• Surpluses occur when supply exceeds
demand.
Figure 6.2a
39
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The Price Adjustment Process (cont.)
• Shortages occur when demand exceeds
supply. 
Figure 6.2b
40
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The Price Adjustment Process (cont.)
• The equilibrium price is the price at which
supply meets demand.
Figure 6.2c
41
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The Price Adjustment Process (cont.)
Figure 6.2d
42
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Discussion Question
Imagine that you want to go to a
concert but you find it is sold out at
ticket outlets. What effect will this
shortage of tickets have on the price of
any remaining concert tickets?
Their price will increase.
43
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to display the answer.
Explaining and Predicting Prices
• A change in price is normally the result of
a change in supply, a change in demand,
or both.
Figure 6.3a
44
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Explaining and Predicting Prices (cont.)
• Even small changes in an inelastic supply
can create big changes in price. 
Figure 6.3b
45
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Explaining and Predicting Prices (cont.)
• Elastic supply and demand help keep
prices from changing dramatically.
Figure 6.4
46
Discussion Question
U.S. soybean farmers had a recordhigh harvest in 1998. What likely
effect did the increase in the supply of
soybeans have on their price?
Students should indicate that the
price of soybeans dropped
dramatically.
47
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The Competitive Price Theory
• The theory of competitive pricing
represents a set of ideal conditions and
outcomes; it serves as a model to measure
market performance. 
• In theory, a competitive market allocates
resources efficiently. 
• To be competitive, sellers are forced to
lower prices, which makes them find ways
to keep their costs down. 
• Competition among buyers keeps prices
from falling too far.
48
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Discussion Question
Why do experts say that a market
economy is one that “runs itself”?
A market economy offers a climate
where buyers and sellers set prices;
there is no need for a bureaucracy or
planning commission.
49
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Section Assessment
Main Idea Explain how a change in
demand can affect prices.
Changes in income, tastes, and so
on affect demand and, therefore,
price.
50
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Describe how prices are determined
in a competitive market.
Prices are adjusted through
competition between buyers and
sellers.
51
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Explain why economic models are
useful.
They show how markets work by
helping analyze behavior and predict
outcomes.
52
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Explain how different cases of
demand and supply elasticity are
related to price changes.
The more elastic, the smaller the
price change; the less elastic, the
larger the price change.
53
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Understanding Cause and Effect
What signal does a high price send to
buyers and sellers?
A high prices tells buyers that they
should buy less and tells sellers they
should offer more.
54
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Making Inferences What do
merchants usually do to sell items that
are overstocked? What does this tell
you about the equilibrium price for the
product?
They lower the price of the items. The
equilibrium price is lower than the
present price.
55
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Section Close
Discuss the following:
Price represents the balancing of
the forces of demand and supply.
56
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Study Guide
Main Idea
To achieve one or more of its social goals,
government sometimes sets prices. 
Reading Strategy
Graphic Organizer As you read the section,
complete a cause-and-effect chart similar to the
one on page 150 of your textbook by explaining
how price ceilings affect quantity supplied.
58
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information. Section 3 begins on page 150 of your textbook.
Study Guide (cont.)
Key Terms
– price ceiling 
– target price 
– minimum wage 
– nonrecourse loan 
– price floor 
– deficiency payment 
Objectives
After studying this section, you will be able to: 
– Describe the consequence of having a fixed
price in a market. 
– Explain how loan supports and deficiency
payments work. 
– Understand what is meant when “markets talk.”
59
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information. Section 3 begins on page 150 of your textbook.
Study Guide (cont.)
Applying Economic Concepts
Price Floor Chances are that you have worked
for the minimum wage at some time in your life.
Why is this an example of a price floor?
Click the Speaker button to
listen to the Cover Story.
60
Section 3 begins on page 150 of your textbook.
Introduction
• Chapter 2 examined seven broad
economic and social goals that most
people seem to share. 
• We also observed that these goals,
while commendable, were sometimes in
conflict with one another. 
• These goals were also partially
responsible for the increased role that
government plays in our economy. 
• The goals most compatible with a
market economy are freedom, efficiency,
full employment, price stability, and
economic growth.
61
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Introduction (cont.)
• Attempts to achieve the other two
goals—equity and security—usually
require policies that distort market
outcomes. 
• In other words, we may have to give up
a little efficiency and freedom in order to
achieve equity and security. 
• Whether this is good or bad often
depends on a person’s perspective.
62
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Introduction (cont.)
• After all, the person who receives a
subsidy is more likely to support it
however, it is usually wise to evaluate
each situation on its own merits, as the
benefits of a program may well exceed
the costs. 
• What is common to all of these
situations, however, is that the outcomes
can be achieved only at the cost of
interfering with the market.
63
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Introduction (cont.)
• After all, the person who receives a subsidy
is more likely to support it than is the
taxpayer who pays for it. 
• In general, it is usually wise to evaluate
each situation on its own merits, as the
benefits of a program may well exceed the
costs. 
• What is common to all of these situations,
however, is that the outcomes can be
achieved only at the cost of interfering with
the market.
64
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Did You Know?
• During the nation’s Great Depression,
prices for farm products tumbled.
Farmers lost much money, and many
even lost their farms. At the same time,
the farms produced surplus crops. To
combat this, in 1933, the government
passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act.
In part, this act authorized payments to
farmers who agreed to reduce the
acreage they farmed. This effectively
reduced the crop surplus and boosted
farmer income.
65
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Distorting Market Outcomes
• Achieving equity and security (two of the
seven broad economic and social goals)
usually requires policies that distort market
outcomes. 
• One way to achieve these goals is to set
“socially desirable” prices, which interferes
with the pricing system. 
• Setting price ceilings affects the allocation
of resources. 
• The minimum wage is an example of a
price floor.
66
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Distorting Market Outcomes (cont.)
Figure 6.5a
67
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Distorting Market Outcomes (cont.)
Figure 6.5b
68
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Discussion Question
Do you agree with economists who
argue that the minimum wage actually
contributes to unemployment rates?
Why or why not?
Answers will vary but should reflect
an understanding of the purpose of
price floors.
69
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Agricultural Price Supports
• Government loan support was offered in
the 1930s through Commodity Credit
Corporation to help stabilize agricultural
prices. The CCC loan program led to food
Figure 6.6a
surpluses. 
• The CCC switched to
deficiency payments,
which prevented the
government from holding
surplus food and had
farmers sell their crops
on the open market.
70
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Agricultural Price Supports (cont.)
• In 1996, Congress
passed FAIR—Federal
Agricultural
Improvement and
Reform Act. Cash
payments replaced
price supports and
deficiency payments.
The payments ended
up costing as much. In
2002, farmers will no
longer receive any kind
of payments.
71
Figure 6.6b
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Discussion Question
In your opinion, which kind of price
support provides farmers with the most
incentive to sell their crops at the
highest possible price?
Answers will vary but students may
point out that government makes up
the price difference, offering little
incentive to farmers.
72
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When Markets Talk
• Markets “talk” when prices move up or
down dramatically. 
• Buyers and sellers respond to changes in
the market through their decisions.
73
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Discussion Question
Think of the last item you decided not
to buy. What message did your
decision send to the manufacturer?
That something about the product or
its value was not worth the price.
74
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to display the answer.
Section Assessment
Main Idea Using your notes from the
graphic organizer activity on page 150
of your textbook, describe why price
ceilings are often set.
Price ceilings are set to achieve
equity and security.
75
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Describe two effects of having a fixed
price other than the equilibrium price
forced on a market.
Shortages result if prices are set
below equilibrium. Surpluses result if
prices are set above it.
76
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Explain how loan supports and
deficiency payments work.
Loan supports allow farmers to
borrow against crops. Deficiency
payments supply farmers with checks
for the difference between the target
price and the actual price.
77
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Describe how markets speak
collectively for buyers and sellers.
The significant movements of prices,
either up or down, signals the
collective decisions.
78
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Section Assessment (cont.)
Understanding Cause and Effect The price
of fresh fruit over the course of a year may go
up or down by as much as 100 percent.
Explain the causes for these changes in
terms of changes in demand, changes in
supply, and the elasticity of demand for fresh
fruit.
Supply is affected by seasons and by
weather. Because demand tends to be
stable and slightly inelastic, a change in
supply can cause a large change in price.
79
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Section Close
Prices can be viewed as signals.
Create a logo or symbol that
illustrates this idea.
80
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Section 1: Prices as Signals
• Prices serve as signals to both producers and
consumers. In doing so, they help decide the
three basic WHAT, HOW, and FOR WHOM
questions that all societies face. 
• High prices are signals for businesses to produce
more and for consumers to buy less. Low prices
are signals for businesses to produce less and for
consumers to buy more. 
• Prices have the advantages of neutrality, flexibility,
efficiency, and clarity.
82
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Section 1: Prices as Signals (cont.)
• Other nonprice allocation methods such as
rationing can be used. Under such a system,
people receive ration coupons, which are similar
to tickets or receipts that entitle the holder to
purchase a certain amount of a product. 
• Nonprice allocation systems suffer from problems
regarding fairness, high administrative costs, and
diminished incentives to work and produce. 
• A market economy is made up of many different
markets, and different prices prevail in each. A
change in price in one market affects more than
the allocation of resources in that market. It also
affects the allocation of resources between
markets.
83
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Section 2: The Price System at Work
• Economists often use an economic model to
help analyze behavior and predict outcomes.
Models of economic markets are often
represented with supply and demand curves in
order to examine the concept of market
equilibrium, a situation in which prices are
relatively stable, and the quantity of output
supplied is equal to the quantity demanded. 
• In a competitive market, prices are established by
the forces of supply and demand. If the price is too
high, a temporary surplus appears until the price
goes down. If the price is too low, a temporary
shortage appears until the price rises. Eventually
the market reaches the equilibrium price where
there is neither a shortage nor a surplus.
84
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Section 2: The Price System at
Work (cont.)
• A change in price can be caused by a change in
supply or a change in demand. The size of the
price change is affected by the elasticity of both
curves. The more elastic the curves, the smaller
the price change; the less elastic the curves, the
larger the price change. 
• The theory of competitive pricing represents a set
of ideal conditions and outcomes. The theory
serves as a model by which to measure the
performance of other, less competitive markets.
Because of this, absolutely pure competition is not
needed for the theory of competitive pricing to be
practical.
85
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Section 3: Social Goals vs. Market
Efficiency
• Governments sometimes fix prices at levels above
or below the equilibrium price to achieve the social
goals of equity and security. 
• If the fixed price is a price ceiling, as in the case
of rent controls, a shortage usually appears for as
long as the price remains fixed below the
equilibrium price. 
• Agricultural price supports were introduced during
the 1930s to support farm incomes. Nonrecourse
loan support programs allowed farmers to borrow
against crops, and then keep the loan and forfeit
the crop if market prices were low.
86
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Section 3: Social Goals vs. Market
Efficiency (cont.)
• Later, deficiency payments were used, supplying
the farmer with a check that made up the
difference between the target price and the actual
price received for the product.
87
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Identifying Key Terms
Identify the key term that is an effect of the five causes stated below.
Some causes may have more than one effect.
Cause: The government tries to keep prices down by
D
legislating price ceilings. Effect: ______
Cause: The government wants to allocate scarce
goods and services without the help of a price
A
system. Effect: ______
Cause: A reasonably competitive market is experiencing
alternating, yet consecutively smaller, surpluses and
E
shortages. Effect: ______
A. rationing
B. economic model
C. surplus
D. shortage
89
E. equilibrium price
F. loss leader
G. price ceiling
H. price floor
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. The Chapter Assessment is on pages 158–159.
Identifying Key Terms (cont.)
Identify the key term that is an effect of the five causes stated below.
Some causes may have more than one effect.
Cause: People decide that farmers should receive a
higher price for milk and cheese, so a price floor for these
products is established. Effect: ______
C
Cause: A market is at equilibrium, but the product falls
out of style before producers can reduce production.
C
Effect: ______
A. rationing
B. economic model
C. surplus
D. shortage
90
E. equilibrium price
F. loss leader
G. price ceiling
H. price floor
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Reviewing the Facts
Describe four advantages of using
price as an allocating mechanism.
Prices are neutral, favoring neither
producer nor consumer, and flexible,
allowing the market economy to
accommodate change. Prices have
no administrative costs and are
efficient because they are understood
by all.
91
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Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
List three problems of allocating
goods and services using nonpricerelated methods.
establishing fair system of allocation;
cost of administering system; negative
impact system has on incentive to
work and produce
92
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Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
Cite an example of an economic
model used in this chapter.
Examples may include graphs of
supply and demand curves.
93
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to display the answer.
Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
Explain the role of shortages and
surpluses in competitive markets.
shortage: the quantity demanded is
greater than the quantity supplied at a
given price, and prices will go up;
surplus: the quantity supplied is
greater than the quantity demanded,
and prices will go down
94
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Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
Describe three causes of a price
change in a market.
a change in supply, a change in
demand, or a change in both
95
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to display the answer.
Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
Explain why shortages and
surpluses are not temporary when
price controls are used.
At lower prices there is no incentive
for producers to produce more, so
shortages continue. At higher prices
there is no incentive to buy, so
surpluses remain.
96
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to display the answer.
Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
Identify two programs that have
historically been used to stabilize
farm incomes.
loan supports, deficiency payments
97
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to display the answer.
Reviewing the Facts (cont.)
Explain what is meant by the
statement that markets “talk.”
The significant movement of prices up
or down reflects the judgments of all
buyers and sellers in the market.
Enough buyers or sellers cause
significant price movements that
communicate to all buyers and
sellers.
98
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to display the answer.
Thinking Critically
Making Generalizations Some
people argue that the minimum
wage is not a fair price. Use a web
like the one on page 158 of your
textbook to help you identify
reasons for this argument. Explain
why you agree or disagree.
Answers will vary.
99
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to display the answer.
Thinking Critically (cont.)
Making Predictions Suppose that your state wanted
to make health care more affordable for everyone.
To do this, state legislators put a series of price
controls–price ceilings–in place that cut the cost of
medical services in half. What would happen to the
demand for medical services at the new, lower
price? What would happen to the supply of medical
services that doctors would be willing to provide at
the new, lower price? Where do you think new
doctors would prefer to set up practice? Explain
the reasons for your answers.
Because demand for medical services tends to be
inelastic, the quantity demanded will increase only
moderately. Because prices for services would be set
below market level, there would be less incentive for
doctors to offer services. Quantity supplied would
probably decrease. New doctors might want to set up
practice in states where there were no price ceilings.
100
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Applying Economic Skills
Rationing Suppose that a guest
speaker visited your class and left
20 ballpoint pens as samples–not
knowing that there were 30 students
in the class. Devise a nonprice
rationing system that would fairly
allocate the scarce item to everyone
in the class.
Rationing systems will vary.
101
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to display the answer.
Applying Economic Skills (cont.)
Equilibrium Price Many people feel that the
minimum wage is too low. If it increased by $1 per
hour, what would happen to the number of students
who would want to work after school? What would
happen to the number of workers that stores in
your community would want to hire? Would the
combination of these factors cause a shortage or a
surplus of workers in your community? Provide an
explanation for each of your answers.
At a higher minimum wage, there would be more
incentive for workers to sell their labor. The number of
students wanting to work after school would increase.
The higher cost of labor would result in store
managers hiring fewer workers, so there might be a
surplus of workers.
102
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to display the answer.
Identify what will happen to prices in the
following situations: (1) Supply decreases
and demand is elastic. (2) Supply
increases and demand is inelastic. (3) A
surplus exists. (4) Supply remains
constant but demand increases. (5) A
shortage exists.
(1) prices rise slightly; (2) prices fall
markedly; (3) prices fall; (4) prices rise; (5)
prices rise
103
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Continued on next slide.
Continued on next slide.
Continued on next slide.
Write an essay on the role that prices play in the
market economy. Illustrate your essay with
examples, charts, and graphs. Present and
discuss your essay.
Explore online information about the
topics introduced in this chapter.
Click on the Connect button to launch your browser and go to
the Economics: Principles and Practices Web site. At this site,
you will find interactive activities, current events information,
and Web sites correlated with the chapters and units in the
textbook. When you finish exploring, exit the browser program
to return to this presentation. If you experience difficulty
connecting to the Web site, manually launch your Web browser
and go to
http://epp.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/economics/econ
principles2005/index.php
Explore online information about the
topics introduced in this chapter.
Click on the Connect button to launch your browser and go to the
BusinessWeek Web site. At this site, you will find up-to-date
information dealing with all aspects of economics. When you
finish exploring, exit the browser program to return to this
presentation. If you experience difficulty connecting to the Web
site, manually launch your Web browser and go to
http://www.businessweek.com
Consumer Confidence A statistic called the
Consumer Confidence Index attempts to gauge
consumers’ feelings about the current condition
of the economy and their expectations about the
economy’s future direction. The index is
weighted 60% in favor of expectations and 40%
in favor of current conditions. Large movements
in this index indicate or signal changes in
consumer spending patterns.
Comparing Food Prices The top ten countries
in terms of cost of living are, in order from
highest to lowest: Japan, Hong Kong, Russia,
Norway, Switzerland, France, Gabon, United
Kingdom, Singapore, and Taiwan. The United
States is ranked 17th in cost of living.
The Price of Ivory In 1989, Kenyan president
Daniel Arap Moi ordered officials to burn 2,400
African elephant tusks that had been confiscated
from poachers. Some economists were very critical
of this policy. By reducing the supply of tusks on the
world market, they argued, the price of ivory rose on
world markets. This provided a stronger incentive for
poachers to kill more elephants. Other economists
argued that burning the tusks generated a lot of
publicity about the plight of African elephants, and
may have decreased demand for ivory.
Economists sometimes refer to a surplus as
excess supply and a shortage as excess
demand.
Outside the Law In the case of body organs,
the government has imposed a price control of
zero. While people are allowed to donate
organs upon their death, anyone caught selling
human organs can get up to five years in prison
or a $50,000 fine. Price controls like this,
however, often engender black markets. In
1999, for example, someone offered to sell a
kidney on eBay, an online auction site. The
bidding rose to $5.7 million before eBay
cancelled the illegal auction.
What Happened to
Cheap Postwar Oil?
The price of almost everything is affected by supply
and demand, and the price of oil is no exception.
Read the BusinessWeek Newsclip article on page
156 of your textbook. Think about the events that
affect the supply and demand—and therefore the
price—of oil.
Continued on next slide.
This feature is found on page 156 of your textbook. Click
the Speaker button to listen to an audio introduction.
What Happened to
Cheap Postwar Oil?
Making Inferences Why did experts think
oil prices would fall with a decisive victory in
Iraq?
Answers will vary, but may include:
Experts believed that a decisive victory in
Iraq would end the uncertainty about oil
prices, and thus reduce the cost.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 156 of your textbook.
What Happened to
Cheap Postwar Oil?
Analyzing Information Why have oil
prices remained high after the war?
Oil prices have remained high in part to
the post-war costs in Iraq, including
looting, the sabotage of pipelines, and an
aging infrastructure.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 156 of your textbook.
Economics and You
Video 12: The Price System
at Work
After viewing The Price System at Work, you should be
able to: 
• Explain how prices are determined by the forces of
supply and demand. 
• Understand how and why producers use rebates to
spur demand. 
• Define and explain the goal of a cartel. 
• Outline the dynamics of price fluctuation in the
agricultural market.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar
to display the information.
Economics and You
Video 12: The Price System
at Work
Side 1
Disc 1
Chapter 12
Click the Videodisc button
anytime throughout this
section to play the complete
video if you have a videodisc
player attached to your
computer.
Click the Forward button to
view the discussion questions
and other related slides.
Click inside the box to play the preview.
Continued on next slide.
Economics and You
Video 12: The Price System
at Work
What role did the incentives and
rebates play in consumers’
willingness to buy automobiles?
By reducing the final prices of the
automobiles, the rebates and
incentives had a positive effect on
consumer demand for cars.
Side 1
Disc 1
Chapter 12
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to display the answer.
Synthesizing Information
Synthesizing information involves integrating
information from two or more sources. The
ability to synthesize, or combine, information
is important because information gained from
one source often sheds new light upon other
information.
Continued on next slide.
This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
Learning the Skill
• To synthesize information, follow these steps:
• Analyze each source separately to understand its
meaning. 
• Determine what information each source adds to the
subject. 
• Identify points of agreement and disagreement
between the sources. Ask: Can Source A give me
new information or new ways of thinking about
Source B?
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
information. This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
Learning the Skill (cont.)
• Find relationships between the information in the
sources.
Continued on next slide.
This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
Practicing the Skill
• Study the sources on page 149 of your textbook, then
answer the questions on the following slides.
Continued on next slide.
This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
What is the main subject of each
excerpt?
Source A is about the consumer’s decision
to either borrow money for a new car, or to
pay cash for a less expensive used car.
Source B is about borrowing and buying
on credit.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
What kind of information does
Source A add to this subject?
Source A adds research results, and
advantages and disadvantages.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
What kind of information does
Source B add to this subject?
Source B considers consumers’ feelings
and opinions.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
Does Source B support or contradict
Source A? Explain.
Both Sources A and B provide information
about the economic decision of whether to
make purchases using credit.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Synthesizing Information
Summarize what you have learned
from both sources.
Answers will vary.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 149 of your textbook.
Click a picture to
learn more about
Gary Becker or
Milton Friedman.
Be prepared to
answer the
questions that
appear on the
next two slides.
Gary Becker
1930–
Milton Friedman
1912–
Continued on next slide.
This feature is found on page 141 of your
textbook.
Making Comparisons How are Becker’s and
Friedman’s ideas similar and different?
Becker’s and Friedman’s ideas are similar in that
they view economic conditions and decisions as
fundamental to other aspects of life; they differ in
that Becker focuses on the micro, specifically the
decision-making of individuals, while Friedman
focuses on the macro, specifically the importance
of the supply of money or monetary policy.
Continued on next slide.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 141 of your textbook.
For Further Research Read an article
or book by Becker or Friedman.
Present a summary of the work to the
class.
Answers will vary.
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the
answer. This feature is found on page 141 of your textbook.
End of Custom Shows
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shows and return to the main presentation.
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